Handbag with interchangeable covers

ABSTRACT

A handbag having interchangeable covers to change the visual appearance of the handbag. The main handbag comprises an article receiving enclosure having an upper margin about the opening and carrying straps on either side of the opening. A plurality of fastening elements are secured within the opening of the main handbag adjacent the margin. A changeable cover is adapted to be disposed about the main handbag having fastening panels along the upper edge thereof and being adapted to be folded over the upper margin of the opening of the main handbag. Mating fastening elements are coupled to the fastening panels to engage the fastening elements of the handbag to secure the cover to the main handbag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to women's purses and handbagsand, in particular, to purses and handbags that can be coupled tochangeable covers to change the color and appearance of the handbag.

2. Prior Art

The fashion industry has traditionally marketed purses and handbagshaving a specific appearance (e.g., color) that would permit the user tocoordinate the purse or handbag with clothing and the like. The priorart discloses several inventions which intend to provide interchangeablecoverings or panels that can be affixed or otherwise temporarily securedto the handbag in order to change its appearance.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,747,801 discloses a handbag with removable closuresflaps that are retained by press button snaps in a pocket in the rear ofthe purse. The present invention substantially improves on this deviceby providing interchangeable covers having a variety of appearances thatcan be temporarily coupled to the underlying handbag without the need ofremoving essential elements of the handbag.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,710 discloses a handbag that has a plurality offacing members secured to the bottom of the handbag that can be moved tocover one side wall or the other and is secured by a clasp keeping themin place. The present invention improves on the structure and functionof this invention by providing an interchangeable cover that fullyenvelops the entire underlying bag and which is coupled to theunderlying bag by fastening elements that are not visible from theexterior of the handbag.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,204 discloses a handbag which has interchangeableremovable flaps that are selectively attached to the handbag by aspring-loaded toggle lock and hasp system. The present invention is animprovement upon this device since the present invention employs aunitary, interchangeable cover that envelops the entire underlyinghandbag and may be secured to the underlying handbag by simple buteffective fastening elements that are not visible from the exterior ofthe handbag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved handbag system which allowsfor combining a basic handbag body with one or more interchangeablecovers which can be provided in varying colors, textures and designs.The handbag system permits the consumer with expanded choices and inputinto the design of their handbag and completely change the appearance ofthe handbag to match changes of wardrobe by altering the interchangeablecover.

The present invention comprises a basic handbag having a pair ofsubstantially uniform side panels that are joined along the sides andbottom thereof and having an upper margin that is open for receivingarticles. Removable, elongated carrying straps are detachably secured tothe upper margin of each side panel. Fastening members are secured tothe inner surface of each side wall on either side of the detachablecoupling between the carrying straps and the body of the handbag.

An interchangeable cover is adapted to be secured to the handbag body.The interchangeable cover comprises a pair of side panels that aresecured along the bottom thereof and along one side. A zipper isdisposed between an end of the opposing side walls. The upper edge ofthe side walls extend into fastening panels that are adapted to bedisposed over the upper margin of the handbag body and be positionedabout the detachably secured ends of the carrying straps. Matingfastening elements are coupled to the fastening panels and are adaptedto mate with the fastening elements that are secured to the handbag.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a handbagsystem incorporating interchangeable covers for a handbag body.

It is another object of the present invention to provide interchangeablecovers for a handbag body that vary in color, texture and design topermit coordination with the user's wardrobe.

It is still another object of the present invention to provideinterchangeable covers for a handbag body that may be coupled tounderlying handbags along the interior closure of the handbag.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide animproved handbag system that simple and inexpensive to fabricate.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of theinvention, both as to its organization and method of operation, togetherwith further objectives and advantages thereof, will be betterunderstood from the following description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustrationand description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limitsof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handbag and an interchangeable coverdisposed thereabout.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a basic handbag body and straps inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the handbag body and strap takenthrough line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an assembly view illustrating the handbag and interchangeablecover.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As can be best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention comprisesa handbag 10 of a conventional shape and design which is adapted to becoupled with an interchangeable cover 11. Handbag 10 is constructed of apair of side panels 12 and 13 which are joined on the sides and bottomby end panels 14 and 15 and bottom panel 16. A pair of carrying straps17 and 18 are detachable secured to side panels 13 and 12 respectivelythrough conventional buckles 19. It is understood that carrying straps17 and 18 can be detachably coupled to side panels 13 and 12respectively by other conventional means that are known in the art.

To be adapted to receive interchangeable cover 11, pairs of fasteningelements 20 are secured to the interior surfaces of side panels 12 and13 immediately adjacent the upper margin 21 of handbag 10. Each pair offastening elements 20 are positioned on opposing sides of a carryingstrap coupling 19. As will be discussed in detail hereinbelow, when aninterchangeable cover 11 is mounted upon handbag 10, carrying straps 18may be detached.

An understanding of interchangeable cover 11 can be best seen byreference to FIGS. 1 and 4. Interchangeable cover 11 employs a body thatcomprises a pair of side panels 25 and 26, end panels 27 and a bottompanel (not shown). It is an objective of the present invention toprovide an interchangeable cover 11 that varies in color, texture anddesign. Coloration, design and/or artwork is adapted to be disposed onthe outside surfaces 28 of side panels 25 and 26 and end panels 27 ofinterchangeable cover 11.

The upper end of side panels 26 and 27 depend into a closed endfastening panel 30, side fastening panels 31 and 32 and open endfastening panels 33 and 34. In order to facilitate mountinginterchangeable cover 11 on handbag 10, zipper sections 35 a and 35 bare disposed between the ends of open end fastening panels 33 and 34.End fastening panel 30 is spaced from side fastening panels 31 and 32 bydepressions 36 and 37, respectively. Side fastening panel 31 is spacedfrom open end panel 33 by depression 38. Side fastening panel 32 isspaced from open end panel 34 by depression 39. As will be discussed indetail hereinbelow, when cover 11 is mounted upon the body of handbag10, depressions 36, 37, 38 and 39 will be aligned with detachablecouplings 19.

To maintain the position of interchangeable cover 11 on the body ofhandbag 10, pairs of mating fastening elements 40 are secured to cover11 on opposing sides of depressions 36, 37, 38 and 39 substantiallyadjacent the upper margin of fastening panels 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34.Mating fastening elements 40 are adapted to engage fastening elements20. To maintain cover 11 in position upon the body of handbag 10,fastening panels 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 are folded about creases 41 thatwill be positioned at the upper margin 21 of handbag 10. When folded,the depressions 36, 37, 38 and 39 will be deposed about detachablecouplings 19 thereby aligning and permit the temporary joinder offastening members 20 and mating fastening members 40.

As can be seen best in FIGS. 1 and 4, interchangeable cover 11 includesa pair of detachable carrying straps 42 and 43. Since carrying straps 17and 18 coupled to handbag 10 may not be needed when an interchangeablecover 11 is mounted on handbag 10, carrying strips 17 and 18 can eitherbe detached from handbag 10 or positioned along the interior enclosureof handbag 10. In a like manner, since the user may elect to employcarrying straps 17 and 18 when interchangeable cover 11 is mounted onhandbag 10, carrying strap 42 is detachably coupled to fastening panels30 and 34 by detachable fasteners 42 and 43. As can be seen in FIG. 1,carrying strap 43 is detachably coupled between fastening panels 30 and33 by detachable fasteners 44 and 45.

It can therefore be seen that the present invention comprises animproved handbag system pursuant to which interchangeable covers havinga variety of colors and designs can be affixed to and thereby change theoverall appearance of handbag 10 in order to coordinate the handbag withthe user's wardrobe.

1. A handbag assembly comprising: (a) a base handbag including first andsecond side walls and first and second end walls forming an openingtherebetween at the upper margin thereof and a bottom wall opposite saidopening, first and second carrying straps each having opposing endsdetachably coupled to the upper margin of said first and second sidewalls respectively, fastening means for replaceably securing saidhandbag to a replaceable cover secured to said first and second sidewalls adjacent the upper margin on each side of the detachable couplingsbetween the ends of said carrying straps and said first and second sidewalls; and (b) a replaceable cover adapted to be disposed about thehandbag and including first and second side walls, a first closed endwall and a partially opened opposing end wall, said side walls and endwalls forming an opening at the upper margin thereof and including abottom wall in opposition to said opening, fastening panels dependingfrom said side walls and end walls in opposition to said bottom wall,said fastening panels having depressions therein in alignment with thedetachable couplings between the ends of said first and second carryingstraps and the first and second side walls of said handbag and matingfastening means for engaging the fastening means secured to saidhandbag, said mating fastening means being disposed in said fasteningpanels on opposed sides of said depressions.
 2. A handbag assembly asdefined in claim 1 wherein said first end wall is partially bisectedfrom the upper margin thereof whereby positioning the replaceable coverupon the handbag is facilitated.
 3. A handbag assembly as defined inclaim 2 further including a zipper secured within the bisected segmentof said first side wall of the handbag.
 4. A handbag assembly as definedin claim 1 wherein said fastening panels are adapted to be positionedover the upper margin of the handbag to engage said fastening means andsaid mating fastening means.
 5. A handbag assembly as defined in claim 4including third and fourth carrying straps each being detachably coupledto a fastening panel on opposed sides of the depressions in saidfastening panel.
 6. A handbag assembly comprising: (a) a base handbagincluding first and second side walls and first and second end wallsforming an opening therebetween at the upper margin thereof and a bottomwall opposite said opening, first and second carrying straps each havingopposing ends detachably coupled to the upper margin of said first andsecond side walls respectively, fastening means for replaceably securingsaid handbag to a replaceable cover secured to said first and secondside walls adjacent the upper margin on each side of the detachablecouplings between the ends of said carrying straps and said first andsecond side walls; and (b) a replaceable cover adapted to be disposedabout the handbag and including first and second side walls, a firstclosed end wall and a partially opened opposing end wall, said sidewalls and end walls forming an opening at the upper margin thereof andincluding a bottom wall in opposition to said opening, fastening panelsdepending from said side walls and end walls in opposition to saidbottom wall, said fastening panels having depressions therein inalignment with the detachable couplings between the ends of said firstand second carrying straps and the first and second side walls of saidhandbag and mating fastening means for engaging the fastening meanssecured to said handbag, said mating fastening means being disposed insaid fastening panels on opposed sides of said depressions; and (c)third and fourth elongated carrying straps each extending intodetachable couplings at the ends thereof, the detachable coupling ofsaid third and fourth elongated carrying straps being coupled to thefastening panels of one of said side walls of said replaceable cover onopposing sides of the depressions in said side walls.
 7. A handbagassembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said first end wall is partiallybisected from the upper margin thereof whereby positioning thereplaceable cover upon the handbag is facilitated.
 8. A handbag assemblyas defined in claim 6 further including a zipper secured within thebisected segment of said first side wall of the handbag.
 9. A handbagassembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said fastening panels are adaptedto be positioned over the upper margin of the handbag to engage saidfastening means and said mating fastening means.